Arnolds Park is a small town of 989 in Iowa, with a median household income of $82,500
and a 0.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Arnolds Park stands out for an affordable cost of living, a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Arnolds Park is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Arnolds Park city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.5
Arnolds Park's overall cost of living index is 92.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Arnolds Park costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Arnolds Park, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$321,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$638
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$82,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Arnolds Park's violent crime rate is 110.1 per 100,000 residents
— 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
110.1 /100k
Property Crime
446.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Arnolds Park, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
38.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Arnolds Park sees average highs of 24.4°F in January
and 82.6°F in July,
with 29.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Arnolds Park's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Arnolds Park roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $321,600 and median rent is $638/month.
Arnolds Park's violent crime rate is 110.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 446.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Arnolds Park, IA has a population of 989, a median household income of $82,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Arnolds Park averages 24.4°F in January and 82.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.5 inches
with about 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Arnolds Park, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51331.
The population of Arnolds Park, Iowa is 989 with a median age of 62.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Arnolds Park: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $321,600, median household income $82,500, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Arnolds Park side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
